In one aspect, Hamlet is successful as a play about revenge because it closely follows the dramatic conventions of revenge in Elizabethan theatre. The general elements include a quest for retribution (often at the prompting of the ghost of a loved one), scenes involving real or feigned madness, scenes in graveyards and scenes of death. These actions produce counter-attacks, such as in Hamlet, where the protagonist hesitates to follow the convention, thus producing our time delay.

Firstly, Hamlet is obliged to avenge his father’s murder: “if thou didst ever thy dear father love… revenge his foul and most unnatural murder”. Using guilt to lure Hamlet into killing Claudius, the Ghost describes Old Hamlet’s murder in detail, therefore influencing Hamlet to hate Claudius passionately as the true horror of the murder is revealed:

“And in the porches of my ears did pour

The leperous distilment; whose effect

Hold such an enmity with blood of man

That swift as quicksilver it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body,

And with a sudden vigour it doth posset

During Claudius’ first speech to the Court, Hamlet is rude and sarcastic towards him, who is now “a little more than kin and less than kind”. Hamlet’s play on the word “kind” presents no affection, as he is still grieving for his father. He is hurt by the callousness that Gertrude and Claudius have displayed towards to his father’s death and he displays disgust towards their relationship in his first soliloquy:

My crown, mine own ambition, and my Queen.” III.III

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,

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